Rail anchor



Patented Feb. 22, 1927.-

' UNITEDv STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS W. COOPER, OF MONTREAL, QUEBEC, OANADA, ASSIGNOR, BY IESNEASSIGN- MENTS, TO STEAD RAIL ANCHOR-S INCORPORATED, OF WILMINGTON,DELAWARE,

A CORPORATION OF DELAWARIEL RAIL ANCHOR.

Application filed March 17, 1924. Serial No. 699,645.-

This invention relates to improvements in rail anchors of the type shownin Figure 3 of U. S. Patent No. 1,366,558, grantedto myself and HenrySteadworthy; and Figure 5 of application Serial No. 623,931, filed the9th March, 1923, by myself and the said Steadworthy; that is to say, arall anchor comprising a U-shaped body member notched to embrace oneedge of a rail base so as to be supported with the web of the bodyinclined transversely of the rail and a loop member held in compressionbetween the body web and bottom of the rail base and,

extending transversely under the rail into engagement with the oppositeedge thereof. In the accompanying drawings which illustrate various butby no means all possible embodiments of the invention Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4and 7 are side elevations of various modifications of the anchor inposition on a rail base.

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary views illustrating further modificationsof the anchor.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 11 designates a rail baseand 12 an anchor body of the type shown and described in the patentabove mentioned and being a U-shaped member having arms 13 notched at 14to embrace the edgesof a rail base and to be thereby held in suchposition that the centre web 15 connecting the arms is inclinedtransversely of the rail and is positioned substantially in its entiretybeneath the rail. I

(Jo-operating with the body 12 is a complementary key member or holdingmember 16 which alone and in combinationwith the body forms the subjectof the present invention. Generally speaking, the holding member iswedge-shaped and is formed of a bar of suitable material such as springsteel bent upon itself toward one end to form a loop 17 at one end ofthe member, which loop imparts the wedge-shaped appearance and wedgingeffect to the member. When the member is not in use this loop ispreferably open but in course of application the loop is closed or iscompressed and by its tendency to open-or expand produces the effecthereinafter described. At the opposite end the member is hooked as at 18for engagement with the edge of a rail base. The member is disposed asshown in various figures of the drawing with the looped end thereofembraced between the arms of the body member and, when in operation, incompression between the inclined web of the body and the under surfaceof a rail base, so

as to draw downwardly on the body and hold the upper notch edges thereofin close engagement with the upper surface of the rail base. Thecompressed looped end of the member tending to expand between therelatively inclined body web 15 and the bottom of the rail base drawsthe hook 18 and the body into tight engagement with edges of the railbase with clamping effect.

In the form shown in Figure 1,-the intermediate or shank portion 19 ofthe holding member is bent or deflected from a straight line and inoperative position is spaced from the rail base intermediate theopposite edges thereof, the form being such that the holding member hasa substantial bearing on the bottom of the rail base at what may betermed the junction of the shank and'loop which is located between thearms of the body. The tail 20 of theloop when in oper-'preferablygreater than after application,

as may be seen by comparison of the dot and dash lines and full lines inFigure 1; also the looped end is larger before application and the looptail is preferably spaced away from the shank. lVhen assembled on a railthe loopedendds compressed between the body web and rail base tosomewhat reduce the size thereof and also to close the same, the actionbeing such that the shank tends to be straightened and the extremity ofthe loop tail is pressed tightly against the shank usually to such anextent that the tail is slightly flexed downwardly. In this form theupward pressure of the loop tail only bearing desired is that sufiicientto support the hook against being forced downwardly out of engagementwith the rail edge by a chance blow.

In Figure 2 a holding member similar to Figure l is shown having twoslight differences. In this form the curvature of the hook is continuedunder the rail base and a slight oifset 23 provided to bear on the undersurface of the rail base a short distance inwardly of the edge toreplace the hearing at the point 21 shown in Figure 1. -With this offset:23 there may be clearance between the rail and the hook at the pointThe second feature of ditl'erence lies in the provision of a longer tail20 for the loop which will have substantial surface bearing with theshank, preferably at the lowest point thereof, but the looped end willbe identical, in form and operation, with the type shown in Figure 1.The

' form of the holding member before applinear the edge cation will besubstantially as already described, that is, the deflection will begreater and the loop will be larger.

In Figure 3 there is shown a modification in which the loop is invertedas compaied with the forms of Figures 1 and 2; that is to say, the tailof the loop, as well as the looped end. bears against the bottom surfaceof the rail base, while the shank thereof bears against the web of thebody and when applied is flexed from the plane of the web so as to pressupwardly against the rail base opposite from the body. In this form theloop may be open in operation and it will be noted that the shank iscurved upwardly toward the rail base instead of downwardly and away fromthe rail base as in the preceding figures, the flexion bein impartedduring the application of the Iiolding member which is preferablystraight in the shank before application.

In Figure at a further modification of the type of Figurel isillustrated, the shank being offset or reversely curved, as at 24,intermediate the looped and hooked ends to space the shank away from therail base. The loop tail is preferably bent adjacent its end, as at 25,so as to be in endabutting relation with the offset and substantiallynormal to that portion of the shank which it engages. In thismodification of theoevice before application the angular relation of thetwo parts of the shank on opposite sides of the offset is greater thanshown and when the member is applied the shank is flexed between theoffsetand hook so that the hooked end thereof presses upwardly againstthe rail base. Further, before aplication the loop is open as in Figure1 ut on application compression of the loop forces the tail thereoftoward the shank end into end abutting relation with the offset 24, sothat the loop tail thrusts against the offset in a directionperpendicular to the engaged surface of the offset. lVhile the point ofabutment is shown at the lowest point of the shank it may be shiftedeither way from this point as desired,'the perpendicular relation of thetail portion 25 being retained.

In Figure 5 there is shown a holding member end in what may be termed aflattened spiral loop which may replace the corresponding ends of any ofthe forms previously described, but with the dilference that the actionof the tail is altered as the tail is in this case turned into the loop.A holding member having this form of end may be disposed either with theshank at the lower side or at the upper side of the loop as desired.Before application the loop is preferably open and is upon applicationfully closed as shown. The flattening of the loop in manufacture must besuflicient to provide surface bearing upon both anchor body and railadequate to prevent the holding member end turning or slipping andpermitting the hook 18 to move downwardly out of engagement with therailedge.

The modification shown in Figure 6 is applicable to any of the precedingforms and resides in the provision of a straight portion in the shankadjacent the hook 18 and designated 26, said portion being adapted toobtain surface bearing with the lower surface of a rail base for a shortdistanceinwardly from the edge.

In all the forms of anchor thus far described the wedge shape and wedgeaction have been apparent by reason of the form of the end. In Figure 7there is shown a modification in which wedge action is obtained similarin efl ect to that of the previous forms, although the loop is onlypotential. In this formthe hook designated 18" is extended to havesubstantial bearing on the upper surface of the rail base and the shank19 has preferably continuous bearing surface with the bottom of the railbase from the hook to approximately the middle of the base. The shankthen curves downwardly away from the base and when in operative positionthe opposite end or tail 3O bears on the web of the body. In this formthe bearing on the under surface of the rail base replaces the upperpart of the loop and the extremity of the shank replaces the bottom ofthe loop. The wedging effect described in connection with other forms isobtained in this form also but in a different way. In the application ofthis form the plain extremity of the shank is flexed upwardly and towardthe rail base, as will be seen by a comparison of the dot and dash linesand full lines in Figure 7.

If desired the Figure 7 may be applied to the various form of hook shownin.

intended.

of the notch edges with the lower surface of. the rail is not absolutelynecessary as the body may be applied, and with good results, to a railsmaller than that for which it was In such a case a small clearance willbe found between the notch edges and the under surface of the rail baseand the edge of the rail will go completely to the bottoms of thenotches, as indicated in Figure 7. It is, however, not advisable thatany such clearance shouldbe so great as to permit appreciable tilting ofthe anchor in the longitudinal direction of the rail when thrustingagainst a tie, as such tilting tends to unnecessarily, unduly andunequally stress the holding member.

The method of application of the forms of anchor shown in Figures 1 to 6inclusive is extremely simple. The body is first applied to the rail andthe holding lnember is then passed\ hooked end first through the bodyunder the rail. \Vhen the member has been passed part way under the railthe looped end commences to bind between the upper edge of the body weband the bottom of the rail base, pressing the end of the hook upwardlyagainstthe rail base. Force is now applied to the looped end by any suitable instrument, such as a maul, to drive the holding member completelyacross the rail and at the same time to partially straighten the shankthereof until the hook clears the edge of the railand snaps up into theoperative position shown. During the application the looped end iscompressed and closed and the whole length of -the holding membertensioned. If desired, as a final step, the hook 18 may be given aslight tap toward the rail to ensure close engagement thereof with therail at the point 22, but this result is normally obtained by theexpansion of the looped end between the converging surfaces of the bodyweb and rail base. In the case of themodifications shown in Figures 1, 2and 4, compression of the looped end in application forces the tailthereof upwardly and against the shank to partially straighten the sameand to hold the hook 18 up inoperative position, the

effect being due primarily to the inclination of the web 15. In the caseof the modification shown in Figure 3 the "same result is obtained butby direct co-operation of the expansion in the looped end acts upon theinclined body web and urges the body toward the centre of the rail andatthe same so -that the rail base is resiliently clamped edgewisebetween the body and holding member hook. This clamping action is sopronounced that great force must be exerted upon the body in thedirection of rail length to cause even a slight movement. If suchmovement does occur in service it results in disposing the holdingmember out of normal to the rail edges so that the holding member isdrawn more tightly between the converging surfaces of the body web andrail base and the looped end further compressed. In this way the grip ofthe device on a rail increases with the thrust against the body.

In the later stages of the application the, holding member shank andloop tail will be. flexed to a greater extent than shown in full linesin' the drawings. In the forms shown in Figures 1, 2 and st the fiexionwill be such that the shanks are nearly straightened, while in themodification shown in Figure 3 the curvature will be more pronouncedthan shown. On account of this superflexion it is desirable to keep thehooks 18 as low as possible to avoid straining the member, but it willbe understood that this does not preclude the use of a hook as shown inFigure 7.. hen a hook of the type shown in Figure 7 is employed theholding member must be driven sufiiiciently past its final position toclear the tip of the hook from the edge of the rail and after the hooksnaps up the holding member must be driven back to relatively enter therail edge into the hook. The super-fiexion of the holding member whichnecessarily occurs in the application thereof serves to test each memberas it is applied, and if the material is soft or flawed the action ofthe hook 18 will indicate the fact. In the same way if the member is toobrittle it will break in application.

The holding member shown in Figure 7 may be applied from either edge ofthe rail and the hook 18 levered up into proper position. The remarks asto the length of the hook, super-fiexion of the member and spring actionmade in connection with previously described forms apply also tothisform. In this case the effect may be said to be attained by tendency ofa potential loop to close instead of tendency to open as in other forms.The action of this form of holding member in relation tothe rail is thesame as with previously described forms.

The anchor may be readily removed in; the case of modifications such asshown in shank 19 and body web. The tendency to 2' "latter knockedoil-the rail.

Figures 1 to 4 by a sharp downward blow on the end of the hook todisengage the same from the rail edge. The looped end may then be drawnout through the body and the lVith proper dimensions and quality ofmaterial the anchor is capable of re-use a number of times. The form ofmember shown in Figure 7 may best be removed by means of a claw-barfulcrumed against the head of the rail and used to lever the hooklaterally clear of the rail edge. lVhen thus positioned the hook shouldbe struck downwardly until clear of the lower surface of the rail tofree the member.

It will be understood that certain structural features of the tioned maybe used to replace corresponding features of the present disclosure, forexample, the form of the hook may, where applicable, be used in place ofthe hooks herein illustrated and described. Furthermore, the variousdetails herein disclosed may be combined in any manner desired. It willalso be understood that the proportions and amount of curvatureandflexion herein illustrated are somewhat exaggerated to simplify suchillustration, and that the invention is therefore not confined to theproportions, forms and fiexions herein shown but that many variations inform, proportion and structural details may be made without departingfrom the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A rail anchor orthe like comprising a body to hook onto one edge of a rail base and aholding member to pass through such body and hookingly engage the edgeof a rail base opposite said body, the holding member being formed toengage toward its ends with the under surface of a rail base and to bespaced intermediate its ends from the rail base.

2. A rail anchor or the like comprising a body to hook onto oneedge of arail base and a holding member hooked at one end and u'escnting at theopposite end an inclined surface to cooperate with wedging action withthe body, said holding member being adapted to be passed hooked endfirst through the body and transversely of a rail into hookingengagement with the rail edge opposite the body, said holding memberbeing formed to engage toward its ends with the under surface of a railbase and to be spaced intermediate its ends from the rail base.

3. A rail anchor or the like comprising a body to hook onto one edge ofa rail base and a holding member to hook at one end onto the oppositeedge of the rail base and to be compressed at the opposite end betweenthe body and the underside of the rail base,

patent previously men said holdingmember being formed to have engagementwith the'underside of the rail base at or near the opposite edgesthereof and to be spaced from the rail base intermediate the edgesthereof. a

4. A rail anchor or the like comprising a body to hook ontoone edge of arail base and a holding member to beheld in compression at one endbetween the underside of the rail base and at the opposite endtohookingly engage the opposite edge of the rail base, said holding memberbeing oftset adjacent its hooked end tobear upon the under surface of arail base and to space an intermediate portion of the member from therail.

5. A rail anchor or the like comprising :1 body to hook onto one edge ofa rail base and a holding member to be held in compression at one endbetween said body and the under surface of the rail base, said memberbeing booked at its opposite end toengage an edge of the rail base, thehook being formed and dimensioned to have edge engagement with the railat substantially the junction of the side or edge and top of the base.

6. A rail anchor or the like comprising a body to hook onto one edge. ofa rail base and a holding member to be held in compression at one endbetween said body and the under surface of the rail base. said memberbeinghooked atits opposite. end to engage an edge of the rail base. thebook being formed to overlie the base only sntiiciently to hold the hookagainst accidental downward disengagement from the base while permittingsuch downward disengagement by force when desired.

7. A rail anchor or the like comprising :1 body to hook onto one edge ofa rail base and a holding member to be held in compression at one endbetween said body and the under surface of the rail base. said memberbeing booked at itsopposite end to engage an edge of the rail base. theend of the bar forming the book being sheared out of nor mal to thelength thereof to reduce the depth of the book while permitting a slightengagement of the same with the upper surface of the rail base.

8. A rail anchor or the like comprising a body to hook onto one edge ofa rail base and a holding member hooked at one end to engage theopposite edge of the rail base and looped at the opposite end to beheldin compression between the body and under surface of the rail base. themember being spaced intermediate its ends from the rail base, the loopedend of the member having a loop tail spaced from the central part of themember and bent at its end toward the member to have end abuttingrelation therewith and to stand substantially perpendicular to thesurface engaged.

9. A rail anchor or the like comprising bodv and the llil lli

- a body to hook onto one edge of a rail base,

and having a seat to be disposed under the rail base, and a holdingmember including a bentshank, and a loop at one end of the shank adaptedfor compression between the body seat and a rail base, and a tail onsaid loop underlying the shank and adapted upon compression of the loopto thrust up wardly against the shank with straightening effect thereon.v 11. A rail anchor or the like comprising a body to hook onto one edgeof a rail base and having a seat to be disposed under the rail base, anda holding member including a bent shank, and a loop at one 'end of theshank 14. A rail anchor or the adapted for compression between the bodyseat and a rail base, and a tail on said loop underlying the shank andadapted upon compression of the loop to thrust upwardly against theshank with'straightening efl'ect thereon, and a hook at the end of theshank opposite said loop adapted toengage an'edge of the rail base.

12. A rail anchor or-the like comprising a body to hookonto one edge ofa rail base and having a seat to be disposed under the rail base and aholding member including a bent shank, a'hook at one end thereof forengagement with the edge of the rail base opposite the body, and awedge-shaped loop at the opposite end of the shank adapted to beforcibly introduced between the body seat and the rail base whereby saidloop will be compressed, and a tail on the loop underlying the shank andadapted upon compres sion of the loopto thrust upwardly against the'shank'torelea'sably hold the hook thereof in engagement with the edgeof a rail.

base.

13. A rail anchor or the like comprising a body adapted tohook onto oneedge of a rail base and having a seat to be d1sposed under the railbase, and a holding member including a shank and a wedge-shaped loop atone end thereofadapted to be forcibly intl'oduced'between the body seatand the rail base whereby said loop will be compressed. and the oppositeend of the shank forced upwardly against the rail base with fiexion ofthe shank, and a hook at said opposite end of the shank to engage anedge of the rail base. a

like comprising a body adapted to hook onto one edge of a rail base, anda holding member including a shank reversely bent intermediate its endswhereby said will bear adjacent its ends upon a rail base and will bespaced intermediate such bearings from the rail base, and a loop at oneend of the shank adapted to be compressed between thebody and rail baseand including a tail to thrust upwardly against. the intermediateportion of the shank when the loop is compressed, and a hook at theopposite end of the shank from. the loop to engage the edge of a railbase.

15. A rail anchor or the like comprising a body to hook onto one edge ofa rail base and a key member to enter between the body i and a rail basewith wedging effect, said key being in its operative position and formflexed betweenits ends from its form when inoperative, with holdingeffect, and a hook on the key to engage an edge of a rail base and to,be held in such engagement by the tendency of the key to reflexmovementto its original form.

16. A rail anchor or the like comprising a body to hook onto oneedge ofa rail base, and a holding member to hookingly engage the oppositeedgeof a rail base, said member including a shank and a loop at one endthereof to be compressed between the body and rail base, the loop havinga tail turned adjacent its end toward the shank and thrusting againsttheshank when the loop is compressed.

17. In a two piece rail anchor, a U-shaped member with parallel Sidesconnected by a fiat web, inclined slots in the sides adapted to fit onthe edge of a rail base, and hold the member with its web inclinedtowards the under surface of the rail, and a retaining member of stripresilient metal bent to form a wedge, having a long leg bent out wardlyin the middle with an outwardly hooked end and a short leg with aninwardly hooked end'adapted to bear on the middle of the-long leg. 18.In a two piece rail angrhor oft-the type specified, a body member withinclined slots to, receive the edge of a rail base, having an inclinedsurface under the'rail and a wedge shaped spring adapted to hold thebody member in position on the railzedge, comprising a'curved portion, along leg bent outwardly in the middle with an outwardly hooked end and ashort leg with an inward ly hooked end adapted to bear on the middle ofthe long leg when in compression.

' which extends to the rail axis, slides on the inclined surface of thebody ortion and compresses the bend of the first egltowards 13 the undersurface f the rail,

, defining a normally open loop,

\ thereby to space .leg, with an inwardly 20. In a two iece rail anchorof the type specified, a we e shaped spring member having a curvedportion, a long leg bent outwardly in the middle and hooked outwardly atthe end to grip the edge of the rail base, and a short leg inclinedtowards the lon hooked end adapted to bear on the middle of the long legand partially flatten the bend thereof, when the wedge shaped spring isunder compression.

21. In a. rail anchor. a U-shaped body portion notched to embrace oneflange of a rail base and a retaining member of strip resilient materialbent intermediate its-ends to the general form of a wedge and includinglong and short arms, the long arm being bent intermediate its ends awayfrom the short arm and further outwardly bent adjacent its extremity toprovide a hook for engagement with the edge of a rail base flange. and ashort arm bent adjacent its end toward the long arm and adapted inservice to bear against the long arm with tendency to straighteningefiect therein.

22. In a rail anchor, a U-shaped body member notched to embrace oneflange of a rail base and including a seat disposed beneath a rail baseand inclined transversely thereof, and a holding member for said bodybeing a strip of resilient material bent intermediate its ends to formlong and short arms in spaced relation and defining a normally openloop, the long arm of said strip being adapted to engage the undersurface of a rail base at opposite edges thereof and being bentintermediate its ends thereby to space it below the central part of arail base. I

:23. In a rail anchor, a U-shaped body member notched to embrace oneflange of a rail base and including a seat portion to be disposedbeneath a rail base and inclined transversely thereof, and a holdingmember for said body being a strip of resilient material bentintermediate its ends to form long and shortarms in spaced relation andthe long arm of said strip being adapted to engage the under surface ofa rail base at thereof and being bent intermediate its ends it below thecentral part of a rail base. the said long arm bein formed at its endadjacent the looped en with a substantially straight port-ion ofappreciable length for engagementflat-wise with the under surface of arail base.

24:. In a rail anchor, a U-shaped body member notched to embrace oneflange of a rail base and including a seat portion-to be disposedbeneath a rail base and inclined portion to be opposite edges terialbent intermediate its ends to form long and short arms in spacedrelation and defining a normally open loop, the long arm of said stripbeing adapted to engage the under surface of a rail base at oppositeedges thereof and being bent intermediate its ends thereby to space itbelow the central part of a rail base, and the short arm of said stripbeing bent adjacent its free extremity to form a hook turning toward thelong arm and adapted to bear against the long arm at about the point ofmaximum spacing below a rail 'base upon closure of the loop bycompression thereof between the body seat and under side of the railbase.

25. In a rail anchor, a holdingmember comprislng a long arm and a shortarm in divergent relation, and a substantially semicircular portionconnecting the divergent ends of said arms, a hook at the free extremityof the long arm turned away from the short arm, and a hook at the freeextremity of the short arm turned toward the long arm. a

26. In a rail anchor, a. holding member comprising a long arm and ashort arm in divergent relation, a substantially semicircular portionconnecting the divergent ends of the arms, the free extremity of theshort arm being spaced from the long arm, a hook at the free extremityof the long arm turned away from the short arm, and a hook at the freeextremity of the short arm turned toward the long arm.

27. In a rail anchor, a holding member comprising a long arm and a shortarm in divergent relation, a substantially semicircular portionconnecting the divergent ends of the arms, the long arm being bentintermediate its ends to present a convex surface to the short arm. anda hook at the free extremity of the long arm turned away from the shortarm. I

28. In a rail anchor, a holding member comprising a long arm and a shortarm in divergent relation, a substantially semicircular portionconnecting the divergent ends of the arms. the long arm being bentintermediate its ends to resent a convex surface to the short arm, alook at the free extremity of the long arm turned away from the shortarm, and a hook at the free extremity of the short arm turned toward thelong arm.

In witness whereof, my hand.

I have hereunto set FRANCIS TV. CQO PER

